
In marketing year 2022-23, the world is projected by the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) to produce 779.03 million tonnes of wheat and provide 204.89 million tonnes for export.
These are the eight major wheat importing nations/regions as listed in the monthly USDA World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates (WASDE) report and their annual tonnes with production.
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February and the persistent La Niña climate phenomenon have combined to create some of the most volatile market conditions in recent memory, sending prices skyrocketing as nations that depend on wheat to feed their populations scramble to secure supplies.
Each month, the WASDE releases new projections to reflect the most recent global market and production conditions, and this slideshow will be updated with those changes.
North Africa: The nations of Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Morocco and Tunisia are projected in the June WASDE to import 29.2 million tonnes of wheat together in 2022-23, an increase from 27.35 million tonnes in 2021-22. The region is forecast to harvest 17.25 million tonnes of the grain in 2022-23. Photo: Adobe Stock
Southeast Asia: A region that is composed of Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam is projected in the June WASDE to import 26.03 million tonnes of wheat in 2022-23, up slightly from 26.0 million tonnes in 2021-22. These nations do not produce their own wheat. Photo: Adobe Stock
Middle East: Lebanon, Iraq, Iran, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Yemen, United Arab Emirates and Oman represent 23.32 million tonnes of wheat imports for 2022-23, up a bit from 23.05 million tonnes in 2021-22, according to the June WASDE. The area is in line to harvest 17.59 million tonnes of the crop in 2022-23. Photo: Adobe Stock
China: The world’s largest producer of wheat with the world’s largest population, China must buy wheat to meet demand, and the June WASDE projects the Asian nation to import 9.5 million tonnes in 2022-23, a slight decrease from 9.7 million tonnes in 2021-22. China is projected to harvest 135 million tonnes of wheat in 2022-23. Photo: Adobe Stock
Bangladesh: The tiny nation on the Bay of Bengal in Asia will import 7.0 million tonnes of wheat in 2022-23, according to the June WASDE, a drop from 7.5 million tonnes in 2021-22. Bangladesh is projected to produce only 1.1 million tonnes of wheat in 2022-23. Photo: Adobe Stock
Nigeria: The West African nation of Nigeria on the Gulf of Guinea is projected in the June WASDE to import 6.5 million tonnes of wheat in 2022-23, up from 6.2 million tonnes in 2021-22. Nigeria is projected to produce just 110,000 tonnes of its own wheat in 2022-23. Photo: Adobe Stock
Brazil: The largest nation in South America, Brazil is shown in the June WASDE to import 6.4 million tonnes of wheat in 2022-23, a slight decrease from 6.5 million tonnes in 2021-22. Brazil is expected to produce 8.5 million tonnes of wheat in 2022-23. Photo: Adobe Stock
Japan: The Asian nation, which sits to the east of the Korean Peninsula and counts Russia and China as neighbors, will be expected to import 5.3 million tonnes of wheat in 2022-23, down from 5.4 million tonnes in 2021-22. Japan is expected to produce 1.15 million tonnes of wheat in 2022-23. Photo: Adobe Stock
Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February, the world’s wheat supply has been thrown into question, with poorer nations facing scarcity and a potential food crisis, according to the United Nations.
Following are countries among the world’s least developed that are the most dependent on Russia and Ukraine for their annual wheat supply (2020), according to the UN Conference on Trade and Development. Nations in Africa import 44% of their wheat from Russia and Ukraine, according to the UN.
Sources: unctad.org and knoema.com/atlas.
In marketing year 2022-23, the world is projected by the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) to produce 779.03 million tonnes of wheat and provide 204.89 million tonnes for export.
These are the eight major wheat importing nations/regions as listed in the monthly USDA World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates (WASDE) report and their annual tonnes with production.
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February and the persistent La Niña climate phenomenon have combined to create some of the most volatile market conditions in recent memory, sending prices skyrocketing as nations that depend on wheat to feed their populations scramble to secure supplies.
Each month, the WASDE releases new projections to reflect the most recent global market and production conditions, and this slideshow will be updated with those changes.